Finland women's national football team

Finland
Nickname(s)	Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)
Association	Football Association; of Finland; (Suomen Palloliitto)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Anna Signeul
Captain	Tinja-Riikka Korpela
Most caps	Anna Westerlund (134)
Top scorer	Linda Sällström (48)
FIFA code	FIN
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	25 (20 August 2021)
Highest	14 (September 2005)
Lowest	32 (March 2019)
First international
	Finland 0–0 Sweden ; (Mariehamn, Åland Islands 25 August 1973)
Biggest win
	Finland 7–0 Armenia ; (Helsinki, Finland 21 November 2009)
Biggest defeat
	Denmark 9–0 Finland ; (Vejen, Denmark 26 July 1975)
European Championship
Appearances	3 (first in 2005)
Best result	Semi-finals (2005)

The Finland women's national football team, also known as nickname The Boreal Owls (Finnish: Helmarit),^[1] represents Finland in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Finland (SPL/FBF), reached the semi-finals of the 2005 European Championship, surprising the female football world having drawn with Sweden and beaten Denmark. Finland hosted the 2009 EC finals.^[3]

The Finnish team now has a few players that are considered to be among the best in the female football, such as Laura Österberg Kalmari, Sanna Valkonen and Anne Mäkinen.

As of March 2017, the team is ranked 28th in the FIFA world ranking. This is the lowest status since the ranking started in 2003. From 2004 to 2010 the typical ranking was #16.^[4]

HistoryEdit

The beginningEdit

The Finland women's national football team played its first international match in 1973 against Sweden. The game was played in Mariehamn, Åland.

Team imageEdit

NicknamesEdit

The Finland women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)"^[1].

Results and fixturesEdit

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2020Edit

27 October Euro 2022 qualifying	Finland	1–0	Scotland	Helsinki, Finland
17:15 (18:15 EET)	Summanen 49'	Report (UEFA)		Stadium: Helsinki Football Stadium Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)

1 December Euro 2022 qualifying	Scotland	0–1	Finland	Edinburgh, Scotland
20:30 (19:30 GMT)		Report (UEFA)	Rantanen 90+5'	Stadium: Easter Road Referee: Katalin Kulcsár (Hungary)

2021Edit

19 February Euro 2022 qualifying	Finland	1–0	Portugal	Helsinki, Finland
17:15 (18:15 EET)	Sällström 90+3'	Report (UEFA)		Stadium: Bolt Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)

23 February Euro 2022 qualifying	Cyprus	0–5	Finland	Larnaca, Cyprus
18:00 (19:00 EET)		Report (UEFA)	Koivisto 4' Sällström 6' Engman 12' Collin 31' Kemppi 90+3'	Stadium: AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis Attendance: 0 Referee: Rebecca Welch (England)

11 April Friendly	Austria	2–2	Finland	Ritzing, Austria
13:30	Billa 6' Höbinger 19'	Report (SW)	Summanen 54', 76'	Stadium: Sonnenseestadion Referee: Eszter Urban (Hungary)

11 June Friendly	Finland	2–2	Poland	San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
	Summanen 23' Klabis 25' (o.g.)	Report (SW)	Grabowska 58' Pajor 77'	Stadium: Pinatar Arena Football Center

14 June Friendly	Finland	0–1	Russia	Cartagena, Spain
		Report (SW)	Smirnova 60'	Stadium: Estadio Municipal Cartaagonova Referee: Mirium Matulova

21 September 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A	Finland	2–1	Slovakia	Turku
17:15 (18:15 EEST)	Engman 37' Öling 68'	Report	Mikolajová 63'	Stadium: Veritas Stadion Referee: Marta Frias Acedo (Spain)

Coaching staffEdit

Current coaching staffEdit

As of February 2021

Head coach: Anna Signeul
Assistant coach: Marianne Miettinen
Assistant coach: Marko Saloranta
Assistant coach: Mika Sankala
Goalkeeping coach: Aki Moilanen

Manager historyEdit

As of 20 February 2021

Tenure	Coach	Record
G	W	D	L	Win %
1973–77	Juhani Nirkkonen	12	1	1	10	008.33
1978	Simo Syrjävaara	3	1	1	1	033.33
1979–89	Kaj Österberg	44	13	12	19	029.55
1989–92	Jyrki Nieminen	24	3	4	17	012.50
1993–96	Nils Suomalainen	24	4	5	15	016.67
1996–00	Reima Kokko	46	11	3	32	023.91
2001–09	Michael Käld	107	35	22	50	032.71
2010–16	Andrée Jeglertz	76	27	13	36	035.53
2017	Marko Saloranta	6	2	0	4	033.33
2017–	Anna Signeul	12	4	4	4	033.33

PlayersEdit

Current squadEdit

The following players were called up for the match against Portugal and Cyprus on 19 and 23 February 2021 respectively.^[5]

Caps and goals accurate up to 27 October 2020.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Paula Myllyoja	(1984-05-20) 20 May 1984 (age 37)	2	0	Pink Bari
12	1GK	Anna Tamminen	(1994-10-30) 30 October 1994 (age 26)	5	0	Hammarby IF
23	1GK	Tinja-Riikka Korpela	(1986-05-05) 5 May 1986 (age 35)	91	0	Everton

2	2DF	Elli Pikkujämsä	(1999-10-24) 24 October 1999 (age 21)	2	0	KIF Örebro
3	2DF	Tuija Hyyrynen	(1988-03-10) 10 March 1988 (age 33)	109	2	Juventus
5	2DF	Emma Koivisto	(1994-09-25) 25 September 1994 (age 27)	54	2	Brighton & Hove Albion
6	2DF	Anna Auvinen	(1987-03-02) 2 March 1987 (age 34)	16	0	Inter Milan
15	2DF	Natalia Kuikka	(1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 (age 25)	51	3	Portland Thorns
16	2DF	Anna Westerlund	(1989-04-09) 9 April 1989 (age 32)	127	4	Åland United
	2DF	Eva Nyström	(1999-11-29) 29 November 1999 (age 21)	0	0	Hammarby IF

4	3MF	Ria Öling	(1994-09-15) 15 September 1994 (age 27)	39	6	Rosengård
8	3MF	Olga Ahtinen	(1997-08-15) 15 August 1997 (age 24)	30	3	Linköpings
10	3MF	Emmi Alanen	(1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 (age 30)	76	19	Växjö
11	3MF	Nora Heroum	(1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 27)	72	1	Brighton & Hove Albion
19	3MF	Kaisa Collin	(1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 24)	21	2	Eskilstuna United
20	3MF	Eveliina Summanen	(1998-05-29) 29 May 1998 (age 23)	20	2	Kristianstad
21	3MF	Iina Salmi	(1994-10-12) 12 October 1994 (age 27)	11	1	Valencia
	3MF	Julia Tunturi	(1996-04-25) 25 April 1996 (age 25)	25	0	Vittsjö

7	4FW	Adelina Engman	(1994-10-11) 11 October 1994 (age 27)	68	7	Montpellier
9	4FW	Juliette Kemppi	(1994-05-14) 14 May 1994 (age 27)	52	4	London City Lionesses
13	4FW	Jenny Danielsson	(1994-08-30) 30 August 1994 (age 27)	26	6	AIK
14	4FW	Amanda Rantanen	(1999-05-11) 11 May 1999 (age 22)	1	1	PK-35
17	4FW	Sanni Franssi	(1995-03-19) 19 March 1995 (age 26)	38	2	Real Sociedad
18	4FW	Linda Sällström	(1988-07-13) 13 July 1988 (age 33)	103	46	Paris FC
22	4FW	Jutta Rantala	(1999-11-11) 11 November 1999 (age 21)	1	1	Kristianstad

Recent call upsEdit

The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Milla-Maj Majasaari	(1999-10-15) 15 October 1999 (age 22)	0	0	AIK	v. Scotland on 27 October 2020


MF	Essi Sainio	(1986-09-09) 9 September 1986 (age 35)	48	3	HJK	v. Scotland on 27 October 2020

CaptainsEdit

Tinja-Riikka Korpela (????–)

RecordsEdit

*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 15 June 2021.

Most capped playersEdit

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Years
1	Anna Westerlund	133	4	2008–
2	Laura Österberg Kalmari	130	41	1996–2011
3	Sanna Valkonen	120	7	1995–2009
4	Anne Mäkinen	118	16	1991–2009
4	Jessica Julin	118	4	1997–2009
6	Tuija Hyyrynen	112	2	2007–
7	Linda Sällström	109	48	2007–
8	Anna-Kaisa Rantanen	105	8	1996–2011
9	Sanna Talonen	103	36	2004–2014
10	Katri Mattsson	100	2	1999–2015

Source: ^[6]

Top goalscorersEdit

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Years	Avg
1	Linda Sällström	48	109	2007–	0,44
2	Laura Österberg Kalmari	41	130	1996–2011	0,315
3	Sanna Talonen	36	103	2004–2014	0,35
4	Emmi Alanen	19	86	2010–	0,221
5	Annica Sjölund	17	69	2006–2014	0,246
6	Anne Mäkinen	16	118	1991–2009	0,136
7	Heidi Kackur	12	48	1999–2005	0,25
8	Maija Saari	11	94	2007–2016	0,117
9	Anu Toikka	8	29	1979–1992	0,276
	Susanna Heikari	8	44	1994–2002	0,182
	Anna-Kaisa Rantanen	8	105	1996–2011	0,076
	Adelina Engman	8	72	2012–	0,111
	Ria Öling	8	48	2015–	0,166

Source: ^[6]

Competitive recordEdit

FIFA Women's World CupEdit

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year	Result
1991	Did not qualify
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023	To be determined
Total	0/9

UEFA Women's ChampionshipEdit

UEFA Women's Championship record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
1984	Did not qualify
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
2001
2005	Semi-finals	4	1	1	2	5	8	−3
2009	Quarter-finals	4	2	0	2	5	5	±0
2013	Group stage	3	0	2	1	1	6	−5
2017	Did not qualify
2022	Qualified
Total	3/11	11	3	3	5	11	19	–8

Algarve CupEdit

Complete this table with details

The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football.

Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1994	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
1995	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
1996	Did not enter
1997	Did not enter
1998	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
1999	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2000	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2008	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2010	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2011	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2014	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	Did not enter
2017	Did not enter
2018	Did not enter
Total	11/25	0	0	0	0	0	0

Cyprus Women's CupEdit

Cyprus Women's Cup record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2012	7th place	4	1	1	2	6	7	−1
2013	7th place	4	1	1	2	5	6	−1
2014	12th place	4	0	1	3	1	8	−7
2015	9th place	4	1	1	2	3	7	−4
2016	8th place	4	0	1	3	3	8	−5
2018	11th place	4	1	1	2	4	7	−3
2019	9th place	4	1	1	2	3	6	−3
2020	Runners-up	3	1	1	1	7	6	−3
Total		24	6	8	17	22	43	−21

Nordic Football ChampionshipEdit

Women's Nordic Football Championship record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
1974	Third place	2	0	0	2	0	6	−6
1975	Third place	2	0	0	2	0	13	−13
1976	Third place	2	0	0	2	1	5	−4
1977	Third place	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5
1978	Third place	3	1	1	1	1	4	−3
1979	Third place	3	1	1	1	2	5	−3
1980	Fourth place	3	0	2	1	1	8	−7
1981	Runners-up	3	1	1	1	3	4	−1
1982	Fourth place	3	0	1	2	1	6	−5
Total	9/9	23	3	6	14	9	56	-47

ReferencesEdit

^ ^a ^b ^c "Helmarit nimetty MM-karsinta-avaukseen Serbiaa vastaan" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
^ "Women's Euro 2009 in Finland". Embassy of Finland. 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
^ "Finland". FIFA. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
^ "Helmarit nimetty Portugali - ja Kypros-otteluihin" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Finland - Women International Player Records". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).Published October 8, 2019, retrieved and Updated data June 15, 2021.

External linksEdit

[helmari-1] "Helmarit nimetty MM-karsinta-avaukseen Serbiaa vastaan" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 22 June 2018.

[FIFA_Women's_World_Rankings-2] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

[3] "Women's Euro 2009 in Finland". Embassy of Finland. 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

[4] "Finland". FIFA. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

[5] "Helmarit nimetty Portugali - ja Kypros-otteluihin" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Retrieved 19 February 2021.

[Finland-WomenInternationalPlayerRecords-6] "Finland - Women International Player Records". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).Published October 8, 2019, retrieved and Updated data June 15, 2021.

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